Prospects for China-ASEAN Relations

Second is the consensus China and ASEAN reached on solving the South China Sea issue through a “dual-track” approach. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi proposed this in August at the ASEAN-China (10+1) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. It includes the addressing of relevant disputes by countries directly concerned through friendly consultations and negotiations in a peaceful way, and China and ASEAN countries jointly maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea. Wang’s counterparts in ASEAN countries warmly received this approach, so dashing the hopes of certain countries of “abducting” ASEAN to exert pressure on China over the South China Sea issue. It also provides a way out of the dilemma of balancing the national interests of individual ASEAN countries and their collective interests over the South China Sea issue, and clears the way for future economic cooperation between China and ASEAN.

The third factor is comprehensive cooperation between China and ASEAN in the sea and over security issues. This is a demonstration of both sides’ sincerity in trying to play down the South China Sea issue and steadily advance their strategic partnership. During the several meetings held in August between East Asian foreign ministers, China designated the year 2015 as the China-ASEAN maritime cooperation year. Its aim is to advance dialogue and cooperation among coastal countries of the South China Sea, and promote joint development at sea through dialogue and negotiations. The key areas for cooperation include maritime economy, communications over the sea, maritime environment, disaster prevention and relief, maritime security, and maritime culture. Meanwhile, China vowed to expand cooperation in the security field with ASEAN countries, and invited their defense ministers to attend the first informal China-ASEAN defense ministers’ meeting in China in 2015. Its focus will be on non-conventional realms of security cooperation, such as disaster prevention and relief and combating cross-border crime.

Such progress inspires confidence in the strategic wisdom of ASEAN leaders and the bright future of the China-ASEAN FTZ.

DONG CHUNLING is an assistant researcher with the Institute of American Studies, China Institute of Contemporary International Relations.